Madsen model 1947 rifle, also know as “the MADSEN Lightweight Military Rifle” (listed as such in Madsen catalogs) or “Colombian Navy M1958 rifle”, was designed and manufactured by Dansk Industrie Sindikat “Madsen” A.S., mostly to be offered for 3rd world countries, whose armies had not enough funds to buy and maintain semi- or full-automatic infantry rifles. It was also advertised in Madsen catalogs as “suitable for soldiers of comparatively small stature”. This rifle was first offered in DISA / Madsen catalogs in 1947, but initially found no buyers, as world arms markets were flooded with surplus rifles of the WW2 era, and the focus of military interests shifted from bolt action rifles towards semi-automatic and automatic rifles. In 1958 Colombian Navy made an order for Madsen Model 1947 rifles in caliber .30-06 US, but it appears that the service life of these rifles was rather short, and most were soon sold as surplus. Total production of the Madsen model 1947 rifles is estimated at around 5-6 thousands rifles. The Madsen model 1947 rifle is often called ‘the last military bolt action rifle’, as it was designed and manufactured when bolt-action rifles finally became obsolete as standard military rifles.

The Madsen model 1947 rifle is manually operated bolt action rifle. It uses rotary bolt action with dual locking lugs, located at the rear of the bolt body. Bolt lugs engage cuts, made on the inner receiver walls just behind the magazine housing. The cocking handle is located at the middle of the bolt and bent down for more comfortable carry. Manual safety is located at the rear of the bolt, and has two position. When it points to the left, rifle is ready to fire; when it points up, rifle is set to ‘safe’, it cannot fire and bolt is locked. Rifle is fed from integral, non-detachable box magazine that holds 5 rounds. Magazine is reloaded from the top, when the bolt is opened, using single rounds or stripper clips. Sighting equipment consist of the protected front sight and aperture type rear sight, which is adjustable for windage and range between 100 and 900 meters. To decrease felt recoil of the rifle, it is equipped with integral muzzle brake and a rubber buttplate. Other standard accessories include carrying slink and a knife type bayonet.